Read Online Dust and Obey by Christy Barritt - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christy Barritt
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into groups by couples, except for Bo who stayed in the room with Lilsa in case Angelina returned. Dr. Turner paired up with Blaine, and we each headed toward a different corridor of Blackbird Hall. Thankfully I’d familiarized myself with the place earlier when I’d gotten lost on the way to the dining room.
I wanted to grab Riley’s arm so I wouldn’t lose him. But I couldn’t allow myself to do that. I had to keep my distance, no matter how much my instinct seemed to have the urge to operate differently. There could be no repeats of what happened earlier tonight.
“Someone went through my suitcase,” I whispered to Riley instead.
“What?”
I nodded. “Everything was meticulously placed inside, which was not my doing. I guess your suitcase looked fine?”
“It did, but I am a meticulous packer. Why would someone go through your suitcase?”
“I don’t know, but that’s one more thing I need to find out.” Only the beam of my flashlight lit the floor in front of us. The darkness here was overwhelming and frightening. I kept waiting for someone to jump out and send my nerves ratcheting into the stratosphere. “This place is nightmare inducing.”
“I have to concur,” Riley said.
It was strange because, in the past, Riley always seemed hesitant when I dove into investigations. He always tried to pull me back, but when he realized he couldn’t, he would tag along as my protector or voice of reason.
But he seemed fully emerged in this mystery right now. He was taking the lead.
And this was a strange realization for me. What had changed after his brain injury? Something must have happened during his time at his parents’ house in DC while he recovered.
I didn’t know. But I had to admit that I kind of liked it.
I’d always wanted a partner in crime solving. I’d pulled quite a few people in with me over the years, but no one permanent. They’d all just been innocent bystanders or people who happened to be personally involved or held a stake in the investigation. Knowing someone had my back was comforting.
We headed to the second floor, where all the guests and most of the staff were staying while here. That’s what Ginger had indicated earlier, at least.
“Angelina?” I called, knocking on a door.
There was no response on the other side, so I opened the door. A lodging area similar to the one where I was staying came into view.
“This is the men’s area,” Riley said.
That didn’t stop me from wandering inside. “I’ll take this room.”
I pushed a bedroom door open and shined my flashlight in the space. There was no Angelina here. Despite that, I peeked in the closet. No one. Under the bed. Nothing.
Out of curiosity, I pulled open a dresser drawer. I didn’t really expect to find anything of interest.
But then I saw a scarf.
A leopard-print scarf.
Just like the one Anna had been wearing in her photo.
CHAPTER 12
Just as Riley and I got back downstairs, the lights flickered on, and we ran into someone emerging from the bathroom.
Angelina.
“We’ve been looking for you,” I muttered, wondering why the woman looked both relaxed and irritated.
“So I’ve heard.” She continued walking, so we followed her back into the lounge.
The rest of the group was already there, but everyone became silent when Angelina walked in. Her ankle had been miraculously healed, it appeared.
Bo hurried toward her. “Where’d you go? We were worried about you, woman.”
She scowled and held up a flashlight. “I went to grab this. I told you that before I left. You know I don’t like being unprepared. If my Girl Scout troop knew, I’d be evicted as leader—and ain’t nobody taking over that from me.”
“You didn’t tell me that you were leaving.” Bo crossed his arms and scowled at his wife.
“I most certainly did. I said, I have to go empty my bladder—I was afraid I might pee myself right here if the lights stayed off too long. While I was out, I
I wanted to grab Riley’s arm so I wouldn’t lose him. But I couldn’t allow myself to do that. I had to keep my distance, no matter how much my instinct seemed to have the urge to operate differently. There could be no repeats of what happened earlier tonight.
“Someone went through my suitcase,” I whispered to Riley instead.
“What?”
I nodded. “Everything was meticulously placed inside, which was not my doing. I guess your suitcase looked fine?”
“It did, but I am a meticulous packer. Why would someone go through your suitcase?”
“I don’t know, but that’s one more thing I need to find out.” Only the beam of my flashlight lit the floor in front of us. The darkness here was overwhelming and frightening. I kept waiting for someone to jump out and send my nerves ratcheting into the stratosphere. “This place is nightmare inducing.”
“I have to concur,” Riley said.
It was strange because, in the past, Riley always seemed hesitant when I dove into investigations. He always tried to pull me back, but when he realized he couldn’t, he would tag along as my protector or voice of reason.
But he seemed fully emerged in this mystery right now. He was taking the lead.
And this was a strange realization for me. What had changed after his brain injury? Something must have happened during his time at his parents’ house in DC while he recovered.
I didn’t know. But I had to admit that I kind of liked it.
I’d always wanted a partner in crime solving. I’d pulled quite a few people in with me over the years, but no one permanent. They’d all just been innocent bystanders or people who happened to be personally involved or held a stake in the investigation. Knowing someone had my back was comforting.
We headed to the second floor, where all the guests and most of the staff were staying while here. That’s what Ginger had indicated earlier, at least.
“Angelina?” I called, knocking on a door.
There was no response on the other side, so I opened the door. A lodging area similar to the one where I was staying came into view.
“This is the men’s area,” Riley said.
That didn’t stop me from wandering inside. “I’ll take this room.”
I pushed a bedroom door open and shined my flashlight in the space. There was no Angelina here. Despite that, I peeked in the closet. No one. Under the bed. Nothing.
Out of curiosity, I pulled open a dresser drawer. I didn’t really expect to find anything of interest.
But then I saw a scarf.
A leopard-print scarf.
Just like the one Anna had been wearing in her photo.
CHAPTER 12
Just as Riley and I got back downstairs, the lights flickered on, and we ran into someone emerging from the bathroom.
Angelina.
“We’ve been looking for you,” I muttered, wondering why the woman looked both relaxed and irritated.
“So I’ve heard.” She continued walking, so we followed her back into the lounge.
The rest of the group was already there, but everyone became silent when Angelina walked in. Her ankle had been miraculously healed, it appeared.
Bo hurried toward her. “Where’d you go? We were worried about you, woman.”
She scowled and held up a flashlight. “I went to grab this. I told you that before I left. You know I don’t like being unprepared. If my Girl Scout troop knew, I’d be evicted as leader—and ain’t nobody taking over that from me.”
“You didn’t tell me that you were leaving.” Bo crossed his arms and scowled at his wife.
“I most certainly did. I said, I have to go empty my bladder—I was afraid I might pee myself right here if the lights stayed off too long. While I was out, I
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